Bible Question:

Can you please tell me the verse in the Bible where God turns over power of the judgment of man to his Son, Jesus Christ?

Bible Answer:

There are a number of verses that talk about Jesus’ being a judge. Here are a few:

For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son . . . (NASB) John 5:22

These things Jesus spoke; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Thy Son, that the Son may glorify Thee, even as Thou gavest Him authority over all mankind, that to all whom Thou hast given Him, He may give eternal life. (NASB) John 17:1-2

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead . . . (NASB) 2 Tim. 4:1

. . . but they shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (NASB) 1 Peter 4:5

The judgment that God the Father has given to Jesus is total and complete. Jesus will judge everyone, those who have died and those who will be alive when He comes again. Jesus will judge both those who believe in Him and those who do not.

Judgment of Believers

The judgment of Christians will be the evaluation of our “good deeds.”

Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built upon it remains, he shall receive a reward. (NASB) 1 Cor. 3:12-14

It is not a judgment that determines if we go to heaven since Christians will not be condemned (Rom. 8:1).

Judgment of non-Believers

But the judgment of non-Christians is different. Their judgment will be based on their works.

And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. (NASB) Rev. 20:11-13

There are several spiritual standards God will use to condemn non-Christians and send them to the Lake of Fire. The first standard is the fact that creation actually reveals the existence of God – even if they claim otherwise. Excuses about evolution, philosophy or something else will not satisfy God. His creation gives witness to His existence.

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (NASB) Rom. 1:20

The second standard God will use is any standard they use to judge others. God will use their standard against them – to judge them. If they believed murder was wrong, then God will show them that they have murdered others. Jesus declared in the Sermon on the Mount that even anger is murder in the heart (Matt. 5:21-22). All murders deserve the lake of Fire.

Therefore you are without excuse, every man of you who passes judgment, for in that you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. (NASB) Rom. 2:1-2

Finally, the God given sense – their inner sense of right and wrong – will be used against them to condemn them to the Lake of Fire. Their secret thoughts of justice will be used to show them that God had a moral standard of evil and good. They may claim there are no moral absolutes, but their secret thoughts are a testimony against them.

For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus. (NASB) Rom. 2:14-16

Conclusion:

Jesus will be a righteous judge. He knows our secret thoughts. He knows those who are really His. He has a reward for those who long to see Him. What a joy awaits us.

. . . in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing. (NASB) 2 Tim. 4:8